Waitaki Girls' High School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waitaki Girls' High School |
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Junior Block
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| Address | |
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Trent Street, Oamaru, New Zealand
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| Coordinates | 45°05′17″S 170°58′25″E / 45.0881°S 170.9735°E |
| Information | |
| Type | State, Girls, Secondary years 9–13 |
| Motto | Latin: Dulcius Ex Arduis "Satisfaction from hard work" |
| Established | 1887; 138 years ago |
| Ministry of Education Institution no. | 366 |
| Principal | Elizabeth Koni |
| School roll | 401 (February 2024) |
| Socio-economic decile | 6N |
| Website | waitakigirlshigh.school.nz |
Waitaki Girls' High School is a public high school just for girls. It's located in Oamaru, a town on the East coast of New Zealand. The school started a long time ago, in 1887. Two local politicians, Samuel Shrimski and Thomas William Hislop, helped to get it started.
Today, about 400 girls attend the school. They are usually between 13 and 18 years old. The school also has a special place called a boarding hostel. About 50 girls live there, including students from other countries.
The school has a special system called a "house system." There are four houses, each with its own color:
- Burn (red)
- Ferguson (yellow)
- Gibson (green)
- Wilson (blue)
These houses are named after the first four principals (leaders) of the school. They were Margaret Gordon Burn, Catherine Ferguson, Mary Gibson, and Jessie Wilson. The houses compete against each other every year. They have fun competitions like sports days, swimming races, choir singing, and drama shows.
The school's motto is Dulcius Ex Arduis. This is a Latin phrase that means "satisfaction from hard work." It reminds everyone that working hard can bring great results.
What Students Learn
Waitaki Girls' High School uses a system called National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). This is how students' learning is measured in New Zealand. The school really focuses on helping girls get good grades.
Each year, students who achieve high marks receive "Excellence Awards." These awards celebrate their hard work in tests and assignments.
Students can study many different subjects, including:
- English
- Mathematics (like statistics and calculus)
- Sciences (such as chemistry, biology, physics, and agriculture)
- Languages (Japanese, German, and Maori)
- Classics (learning about ancient cultures)
- Computer studies
- Geography
- History
- Physical Education
- Art (painting, photography, and art history)
School Leaders: Principals
Since it opened in 1887, Waitaki Girls' High School has had 10 different principals. The principal is like the head of the school. Here is a list of all the principals who have led the school:
| Name | Years They Led | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Margaret Gordon Burn | 1887–1892 |
| 2 | Catherine Mary Ferguson | 1892–1919 |
| 3 | Jessie Banks Wilson | 1920–1949 |
| 4 | Mary Kathleen Dunning | 1950–1963 |
| 5 | Joyce Jarrold | 1963–1979 |
| 6 | Joyce Mayhew | 1979–1986 |
| 7 | Jeanette Aker | 1986–1994 |
| 8 | Linda Cowan | 1994–2007 |
| 9 | Lynlee Smith | 2007–2012 |
| 9 | Tracy Walker | 2012–2019 |
| 10 | Elizabeth Koni | 2020–present |
Famous Former Students
Many students who went to Waitaki Girls' High School have gone on to do amazing things. Here are a few examples:
- Anne Taylor – She was once the president of Netball New Zealand and also World Netball.
- Isabel Clark – She was a nurse who sadly died during World War I. She was on a British ship called the SS Marquette when it sank.
- Janet Frame – She became a very famous author from New Zealand.
